About Mertailor
Where Imagination Meets Conservation
“Some kids want to grow up to become firefighters or superheroes.
I wanted to be a merman.”
— Eric Jonathon Ducharme, The Mertailor
The Making of a Mertailor
Eric Ducharme’s love affair with the sea began before he could even speak in full sentences. Growing up just minutes from Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida’s legendary mermaid attraction, Eric was mesmerized the first time he saw a golden-tailed mermaid glide past the underwater theater window. He was three years old, and from that moment, the world above the waves no longer held his imagination.
By six, Eric was already a familiar face at the Springs. For his birthday, two Weeki Wachee mermaids swam up to greet him, share stories, and leave a kiss on his cheek — a memory that sealed his destiny. Eric began making tails out of whatever he could find: garbage bags, glue, masking tape, even his own bedsheets. With guidance from his grandmother, he learned to sew, creating fabric tails by hand. At nine, he attended his first mermaid camp at Weeki Wachee, where former mermaid Barbara Wynns gave him his first “real” tail, taught him to dive, and became a lifelong mentor.
The Birth of a Dream
At fourteen, Eric founded Mertailor LLC, determined to bring the magic of mermaids to life for everyone. Too young to work professionally at Weeki Wachee, he began donating his early tails to the park, perfecting his craft and developing a following of dreamers wanting to transform into merfolk.
As Eric honed his skills, his mother, Candy, worked by his side, sewing, cutting, and shaping tails with the same dedication and attention to detail. Today, Eric’s husband is also part of the team, helping manage the ever-growing Mertailor family and operations. Together, they’ve built not just a brand — but a family-led legacy, grounded in passion, artistry, and authenticity.
Beyond the Tail: The Aquarium and Conservation
Eric’s love for mermaids eventually expanded into the creation of Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter, a one-of-a-kind facility where visitors of all ages can experience the wonder of marine life firsthand. Here, tails aren’t just for swimming — they’re part of a larger mission: rescue, rehome, conservation, and education.
Through the aquarium, Eric and his family care for animals in need, rehabilitating them when possible and providing safe, enriching environments for those that cannot return to the wild. Guests are invited to witness these magical moments and learn about ocean conservation in an interactive, hands-on way — connecting imagination with real-world stewardship.
Every swim with a mermaid, stingray encounter, or behind-the-scenes dive supports the team’s commitment to inspiring conservation, protecting marine life, and giving back to the oceans. This is the same care and thought that goes into every Mertailor tail: crafted to awe, educate, and inspire.
Recognition and Reach
Today, Eric’s tails have graced stages, screens, and events worldwide — from Lady Gaga to RuPaul’s Drag Race, from Saturday Night Live to Netflix’s MerPeople documentary. They’ve appeared in films, commercials, and music videos, including Kerli’s “Feral Heart” and T-Pain’s “I’m on a Boat”.
Yet for Eric, the most special moments are everyday ones: the smiles of children, adults, and aspiring merfolk opening a Mertailor box and holding their first tail. Each tail is a promise: a bridge from imagination to reality, stitched with care, artistry, and love.
“I won’t stop until my tails look as real as the fish swimming in our ocean reefs,” Eric says.
“And through the aquarium and our work with animals, I want to show that magic comes from caring for our oceans as much as dreaming about them.”
Family, Passion, and Purpose
Mertailor is more than a company — it’s a family legacy. From his mother Candy’s early guidance to his husband’s daily support, and from mentors who inspired him to dream, to the countless families he inspires today, Eric has built a brand rooted in passion, imagination, and responsibility.
When you choose Mertailor, you’re not just buying a tail — you’re joining a community of dreamers, conservationists, and storytellers. A community that believes in the magic of the sea, the wonder of mermaids, and the importance of protecting our oceans for generations to come.
Welcome to Mertailor — where dreams are designed, magic is made, and every tail tells a story.
"Some kids want to grow up to become firefighters or superheroes."
"I wanted to be a merman."
Eric Jonathon Ducharme
Makings of a Mertailor
Eric Ducharme, creator and sole owner of Mertailor LLC, began his journey as “The Mertailor” in 2006. He was just 16 years old and performing as the Prince in Weeki Wachee Springs “The Little Mermaid” show. He had a vision; a passion for mermaids and the mystery surrounding them that could not be quenched.
Haus of Mertailor
Some kids want to grow up to become firefighters or superheroes. Eric will tell you that all he ever wanted to be was be merman. Mermaids have been a part of Eric’s life for as long as he can remember. He grew up in the shadow of Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida’s most legendary roadside mermaid attraction. Eric became entranced by the beautiful gold-tailed creature that swam across the theatre windows, waving and blowing him kisses the very first time his grandparents took him to the underwater theater. He was no more than 3 years old. Visits to Weeki Wachee became a weekly adventure. It wasn’t long before everyone in the park came to know Eric. For his 6th birthday, Eric’s dad surprised him with a very special birthday party at Weeki Wachees’ waterpark, Buccaneer Bay. Sitting at the waters’ edge, eating his birthday cake, Eric was surprised by two glimmering mermaids as they swam up to greet him and wish him a happy birthday. They sat with him awhile, talking and giggling and sharing their stories about mermaid life with him. It was the birthday kiss on his cheek that sealed his fate.
Eric began making his owns tails out of anything he could find. From garbage bags and glue, to masking tape and the sheets off his own bed, it was not uncommon to find him somewhere wearing a mermaid tail. He sewed his first fabric tails with a needle and thread. After a few lessons from his Grandmother, Eric was soon using a sewing machine to sew his tail creations. At the age of nine, Eric attended his first mermaid camp at Weeki Wachee and finally got to swim in the Springs himself. This is where he met former mermaid Barbara Wynns, who gave him his first “real” tail. Barbara helped Eric get him scuba certified, and imparted to him all her secret mermaid knowledge. For years she picked him up after school, and often on the weekends, to take him swimming at the park. They remain very special friends to this day. It wasn’t long before Eric was performing as a merman, whenever and wherever he could, and wearing his own beautiful creations.
Eric was only 14 when he started his company making and selling fabric mermaid tails. He called himself “The Mertailor”. Because he was not yet old enough to actually work for Weeki Wachee, he often donated tails to them. Eric continues his business pursuits with the same undying passion that he did as a child. His desire to help mers worldwide accomplish their magical transformations with his realistic and beautiful mermaid tails has never waned. Known worldwide, Eric’s tails are recognized worldwide for their beautiful breathtaking beauty and whimsical designs. As he continues to experiment with new materials and designs Eric says “I won’t stop until my tails look as real as the fish swimming in our ocean reefs. I want to make my tails available to every aspiring mermaid and merman who dream of life in the sea just as I do”
Today, at the age of 33, Eric’s list of accomplishments includes magical tail creations he has made for a diverse range of clients from well-known personality Lady Gaga to Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Mertailor mermaid tails have made appearances in movies, network TV shows such as Saturday Night Live, commercials, and music videos including Kerli’s “Ferral Heart” and T-Pain’s “I’m on a Boat”, to name just a few. Most recently Eric's story has been showcased in the Netflix documentary MerPeople. Premiers, grand openings and private events and much more have included Mertailor Tails in their programs.
But what Eric says is the most special are his everyday customers. Those men, women and children who dream about this curious and mythological underwater world as he has done for as long as he can remember. The excitement and happiness they experience when they excitedly open their package from Mertailor and see their tail for the first time.